Improvement in earth-augers



T. C. HARRIS.

Improvement in Earth-Augers.

Patented Nov. 5,1872'.

uneutnr:

gtturueg 4M. PHUD-L/YHOGRPNIC CIINKMSBURNE'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. HARRIS, OF DRESDEN DEEP RIVER, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF ANDAMOS TAYLOR, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-AUGERS.

To all lwhom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. HARRIS, of Dresden Deep River, in thecounty of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Tell-Boring Apparatus, of'which the following is aspecifica-1 tion:

My invention comprises certain improvements in the construction of theauger of well boring apparatus, all of which will be particularlydescribed and pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of the capsta and the auger, and sectionalelevation of the derrick, a small portion of the auger being broken outto show the manner of allowing air to flow under the blades and relievethem of atmospheric pressure. Fig. 2 is a top view of the auger. Fig. 3is a detail view of the connection of the air-passage caps to the disk.Fig. 4 is a plan of the bottom of the auger, showing the constructionand arrangement of the nut which secures the disk to the shaft.

I propose to make a large portion of the disk A, in front of each lip B,of thin springsteel plate, C, and attach said parts to the thicker partsA rigidly, by riveting them or otherwise, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, bywhich I have a much more efficient and durable, as well as cheaper,arrangement than that in which the corresponding parts of thick andstrong metal are hinged to the parts A. In this case the spring-platesyield sufficiently to allow the large stones to pass up with the earthraised by the bits, and they return to and retain their position forholding the earth when the auger is lifted out of the well much betterthan the hinged parts. D represents vertical lips of considerableheight, which Il propose to apply to the edges of the disk immediatelybehind the lips B by bending the lower ends under the disk and rivetingthem to the disk, as shown at E, and I further support them by the widestrong plates F extending from their rear edges to the braces G, asshown, and I curve these plates inward and attach them to the innersides of said braces, so that the earth forced backward on the augerwill pass and not obstruct the turning of the auger, as it would ifallowed to come against the front of said braces. `These braces are madeof gas-tube or other like tubing, and the disk A has h'les Where theyare attached so that air can flow down under the auger to prevent theforming of a vacuum below when the auger is raised', and below theseholes I place the bow-shaped spring-cap plates H, which I rivet or boltto the under side of the disk A at their front ends, and connect by aslotted or elongated hole, I, Fig. 3, at the other ends, with a headedbolt, K, so that they can slide back and forth as said caps spring up tothe disk, when the auger is boring, to close the holes'fand protect themfrom clogging, and spring'away again to open the holes and admit the airas soon as the auger is slightly lifted. 1 The braces are attached atthe upper end to a horizontal plate, L, through the center of which theauger-shaft M passes. Said plate has holes through which the said bracespass, so that the air is admitted freely to the tubes. In practice, saidbraces will probably be secured 'by nuts on them screwed against theplate, one on each side. Above this plateL isanother one, N, on theshaft. M,

for preventing particles of earth from falling into the tubes andclogging them up. This latter covering-plate is permanently attached tothe shaft; but the plate L is not attached, in order that lthe shaft maybe readily taken out of the auger-disk, to which it is connected bypassing through a hole in its center, also through a strong bar, O, onthe upper side of the disk, and receiving a nut, P, below which said nutis reduced as nearly to a point at the lower side as it can well be,with two pointed ends, which are adjusted so as to point to the innerends of the lips B, as shown, by which said nut is adapted for ymorereadily entering the earth between the stones and Workin g themtowardthe lips so as to pass up over them readily.

Having thus described my invention,'I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Iatent 1. The vertical lips attached to the disk A in themanner described, and stayed by the brace-plates F and braces G,substantially as specified. l

2. The brace-plates F, arranged relatively to braces G, as specified,for preventing the and auger-shaft M, all arranged substantiallyclogging of the earth by said braces, substanas specified.

tiall-y as described. 6. The described construction of the nut P, 3. Thecombination, Withthe ducts, for adand relative arrangement thereof Withthe lips initting air below the disk of the spring-pro- B, as specified.Y

tecting caps H, substantially as specified. THOMAS, C. HARRIS.

4. The caps rigidly attached to the disk at the front ends, andconnected at the rear ends Witnesses:

so as to be capable of moving, as specified. S. Q. GALICINS,

5. The tubular braces G, disk A, plate L, NV. B. SPENCER.

